Abstract [en]

To design support for distributed cognition is tough. A big amount of this type of systems have been designed during the years and a great number of them have failed in order to fulfill the purpose of supporting people to distribute the cognition. One reason for this may be the lack of support for the design process.

In this article we argue that it exists a lack of theoretical framework to support these processes. We therefore try to examine two existing frameworks; Activity Theory and Distributed Cognition, in order to come up with some conclusions if, and in that case how, these two can be supportive. We also discuss likely differences in results between the two frameworks. We do this by examine the two frameworks and then we apply them to a case; an information system at a department on a hospital.

We show upon the similarities and differences in design results and make a discussion. We finally ask ourselves whether the theories were a support for us in the design process or if an awareness of the approaches of them was enough to make a, sort of more intuitive design. If so, the theoretical frameworks, in this case, and the trouble using them, were in vain.